Cooling apparatus



April 7, 1926. 1,582,192

J. D. STROBELL COOLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5a'vwentoz April 27, 1926. 1,582,192

J. D. STROBELL COOLING APPARATUS v Filed Jan. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mavwe ntoz 513 ('lbbomu s April 27 1926.

J. D. STROBELL COOLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Jan. 1922 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Apr. 27", a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-.

JOHN D. s'rnonm, or rmw nnvan, connnc'rxcu'r, nssrenon ir'o TEE 'snrnr'rmme a menrme comranr, A conronarron or new Jansmr.

e arrm'rus.

Application filed lan ary a5, 1922. Serial 581,578.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. S'rno citizen of the United States, anda. ofNew Haven, in the county of N Haven 5 and State of Connecticut, have iented an Improvement in Cooling App natus, of which the following is aspecificatlon. This invention-relates to cooling apparatus and, as tomost of its eatures, more 10 particularly toapparatus for cooling drinksing water and the like. ne of the objects thereof is to provide p ticalapparatus of the above type characteriz d by simplicity of constructionand efiiciency f action. Other 5 objects are to provide apparatus of theabove type, the various elements of which'are compactly disposed andsoflrelatedas to achieve most effective action. Other objects are toprovide apparatus of the abovenature characterized by economy in the useof materials and energy. Other objects are to provide apparatus of theabove nature of dependable action under long periods and free from thenecessity of adjustment or skilled superviia sion. Other objects will'bein part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arangement. of parts which 0 will beexemplified in the structure hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of this invention,-

Figure l is an elevation partially in section of a compressor andrelated. parts;

Figure 2 is a. similar view o f a reservoir 0 and related parts; c

Figure 3 is a diagrammaticelevation illustrative of certain features ofthe apparatus; and

Figure 4 is .a sectional elevation of. a then- 5 mostatic device on anenlarged scale.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings 0 there is shown at anelectric motor which may be connected with any suitable source 01current, as the battery 11, the circuit through the wires- 12 beingcontrolled by the contact or separation of the contact'members 13 and14, the position of which is governed bya thermostatic device ashereinafter described.

Driven ifrom this motor, the shaft of which is preferably verticallydisposed and the power from which is transmitted through a suitablecoupling 15, is a rotary compres-.

sor 16.- .A suitable packing gland indicated generally at 17 is providedfor making fluidtight the connection between the shaft of the compressorand the compressor casing.

The construction of the compressor 16 may-be of any type suitable toperform the functions herein described, .and on being driven is adaptedto compress a volatile and condensible gas such as sulphur dioxide. Thegas, discharged under high pressure through the tube 18, is ledthroughout an inner coil 19' and, outer coil 20 up to' the dis.- chargepipe 21. Fitted about these coils are, L series of thin copper sheets 22which are spaced from one another and preferably radially disposed, andas they contact the tub- .ing passing therethrough they serve as coolingfins or flanges. It is to be understood that the tubing as well as thesesheets, is preferably so formed and disposed as substantially to enclosethe compressor 16.

The device last described forms a condenser for the highly compressedgas and being cooled by a current of air drawn downward- 1y thcreover bymeans of the fan 23-on the shaft of the motor, serves to condense thecompressedgas into liquid form. In this form it passes outwardlythroughthe tube 21 into an annular receiver 24 which surrounds the condenser,as indicated in the lubricant and condensed gas are of differentspecific gravities, however, and in the receiver, assuming sulphurd1ox1de to be used, the condensed gas Wlll separate by gravity into alower stratum 25, the lubricant accumulating in an upper stratum 26.From the accumulated lubricant a return pipe or V conduit 27 leads tothe inlet of the compres- S0! at 28 and is thus returned for repeatedservice.

From the lower stratum of condensed or liquid sulphur dioxide, theoutlet conduit 29 leads to an expansion device 30 shown in Figure 2 ofthe drawings.

Reference to Figure 1 clearly shows that the tube 21 through which thecondensed fluid passes into the receiver 24 from the condenser 18 andthe tube 29, through which the condensed and separated fluid passes fromthe receiver to the expansion coil 34 are connected to the annularreceiver 24 at substantially diametrically opposite points. The receiverthus provides a plurality of paths of flow for the mixed lubricant andcondensed fluid, thus insuring a low velocity of flow and thuspermitting adequate time for the separation of lubricant from thecondensed liquid.

This expansion device 30 comprises a p-lurality of orifice members 31respectively provided with orifices 32. These 0 enings or orifices arepreferably fixed, and eing serially disposed in the direction of flow ofthe fluid, permit'a series of quickly successive expansions. Assumingthat there are four of these orifices, the expansion from the pressurein. the receiver to the pressure in the cooling coil hereinafterdescribed, takes place in four stages; and at each stage, that is,between the opposite sides of each expansion member, there is acorrespondingly small drop in pressure. For this reason with a givenefficient rate of flow of fluid, much larger expansion orifices may beemployed than would be required for eflicient action if the entireexpansion took place through a single orifice. The increased size ofthese orifices tends to prevent them from becoming clogged with dirt orother foreign matter and insures a dependable as well as eiiicientactionof this portion of the apparatus.

From the lower side of the expansion device 30 the conduit 33 leads to acoil 34 which in turn terminates in a pipe or conduit 35 connected asshown in Figure l of the drawings, to the inlet side of the compressor.

The coil 34 is mounted within a thin annular sheet metal container36which supports a collar 37 at its upper end. Mounted within thiscollar is a rubber ring 38 in which: may berested an inverted waterbottle 39 from which the water will accumu- %ate1in the tank orreservoir 40 to the desired eve The container 36 is mounted within anouter casing 41 of any desired construction and preferably of heatinsulating material. Through the casing 41 and leading into the tank 40is a faucet or cock 42 by which the contents of the tank may bewithdrawn as desired.

In order to prevent excessive cooling of the contents of the tank, thereis provided thermostatic vessel 43 from which a tube 44 leads to theunderside of a diaphragm 45 which encloses an expansion s ace 46 formedin a bed-plate 47. Rcmovab y holding this diaphragm in position is acover member 48 provided with an upwardly extending arm 49 to which ispivoted as at 50 a lever 51, referring to Figure 4 of the drawings. Thislever 51 is provided with an upwardly extending tail 52 to which issecured a tension spring 53 anchored at its other end as to the post 54.Lever 51 is pivoted at 55 to a post 56 secured to the diaphragm 45. Whenthe diaphragm is in its upward position as shown in Figure 4 of thedrawings, the spring 53 tends to retain it in such position, but uponthe daphragm moving downwardly, as hereinafter described, the pull ofspring 53 crosses the pivotal point and snaps it guickly into a positionin which its right en is materially lower and its left end materiallyhigher. The left end of lever 51 is provided with an extension 57secured to a collar 58 slidably mounted on a pin 59. This collar 58 issecured to the upper end of a spring 60, the lower end of which isconnected with the contact holder 61 formed on the lower end of the pin.This contact member 61 holds the contact 14 hereinbefore describedco-acting with the contact 13. Thus as the lever 51 is snapped into itsalternative position withthe extension member 57 raised, it pullscontact 14 away from contact 13 suddenly snapping these parts out ofcontact-making relation. If however the lever 51 is returned to normalposition, it yieldingly forces the contacts together.

Considering now the action of this apparatus, reference is first made tothe diagram Figure 3 in which the parts diagrammatically illustratedbear the same numbers as the correspondin elements in the actualapparatus hereinbe ore described. -Assuming the compressor 16 to be inaction as by reciprocation of the piston, it sucks gas from the coolingcoil 34 in the tank 40. This gas is compressed and condensed incondenser 19 and collected in the receiver 24. From the latter it flowsthrough the expansion device 30 to the cooling coil 34 in which itexpands, drawing heat from the contents of the tank proportional to itslatent heat of vaporization. Obviously so long as the compressor 16 ismaintained in action this cooling process would be continued. Such isthe general connection of the apparatus hereinbefore described.

Referring now however to the details of the action of this apparatus,the compressor 16 draws the vapor from the cooling coil as hereinbeforedescribed as long as the electric motor 10 is in action. It is amplylubricated and cooled by the draft of the fan 23 thus insuring the mostefficient and dependable pression is quickly carried awa This highpressure with the abstraction 0 heat reduces the'sulphur dioxide toliquid form in which condition it is received in the receiver 24 andsegregated from the lubricant by gravity as hereinbefore described.Passing from the receiver which is compactly disposed with respect tothe condenser and also positioned in the draft of the fan, the condensedfluid travels from the expansion device 30 through which by a pluralityof stages the pressure is relieved and it passes into gaseous form. Thisevaporation requires heat which is; extracted from adjacent bodies andas it is in best heat-conducting relation with the contents of the tank40, the latter is quickly cooled. The return of the fluid to thecondenser as well as the prevention of accumulation of pressure in thecooling coil, is brought about by the conduit 35 leading to the suctionside of the compressor.

The thermostatic cell 43 is provided with a suitable fluid such asliquid ethylchloride,

the vapor of which at such temperatures as it is desired to maintain thedrinking water will be below atmospheric pressure and will varyconsiderably with slight changes in temperature. By the adjustment ofthe springs of the thermostatic device, the vapor pressure beneath thediaphragm 45 may be made to permit. the spring 53 to snap the lever 51into circuit-closing position whenever the temperature of the tankcontents reaches what is considered the highest permissible limit, suchas for example forty-six degrees Fahrenhei This action will start themotor 10 and bring the cooling apparatus into operation. The temperatureof the water will then be quickly lowered and when it reaches a certainlower desired limit, such as forty-one degrees Fahrenheit, the vacuum inthe cell 53 will so increase as to draw the diaphragm 45 downwardl andsnap the lever 51 into circuit-breaking position. It is to be understoodthat other fluids might be used in the thermostatic cell and that avariable positive pressure instead of vacuum might be employed ifdesired.

In this manner the control of the apparatus is automatic and thetemperature of the water may be maintained within any desired range,thus preventin excessive cold or warmth or undue waste 0 energy.

It will thus be seen that there is rovided apparatus in which thevarious 0 jects of this invention are achieved and in which theadvantages hereinbefore described are, among others, attained. It willalso be seen that this apparatus is characterized by extreme simplicityand cheapness of construction and yet it is economical and dependable inaction to a marked degree.

As various possible embodiments mightbe made of the above invention andas various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it is tobe understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the ac-,

companying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim as my invention 1. In apparatus of the nature of that hereindescribed, in combination, a compressor, a condenser adapted to receivecompressed fluid and lubricant from said compressor a receiver ofsubstantially annular shape hav ing a connection to receive condensedfluid and lubricant from said condenser and adapted to permit thecondensed fluid and lubricant to separate by gravity into two layers, anex ansion device, a connection for I discharging ubricant from saidreceiver and. for conducting it to said compressor, and a connection fordischarging condensed fluid from said receiver and for conductin it tosaid expansion device, the said connection of the condenser to thereceiver and the said connection of the expansion device to the receiverbeing made at substantially diametrically opposite points in saidannular recelver.

2. In apparatus of the nature of that herein described, in combination,a compressor, a condenser adapted to receive compressed fluid andlubricant from said compressor and shaped to extend about saidcompressor, a receiver of substantially annular shape fitted about saidcondenser having aconnection to receive condensed fluid and lubricantfrom. said condenser, said receiver bein adapted to permit the condensedfluid and the lubricant to separate by gravity into two layers, anexpansion device, a connectionfor discharging lubricant from saidreceiver and for conducting it to said compressor, and a connection fordischarging condensed fluid from said receiver and for conducting it tosaid expansion device, the said connection of the condenser to thereceiver and the i and connected to receive condensed fluid therefrom,and a receiver extendin about said condenser and connected to receivecondensed fluid therefrom and an outlet for said receiver, said receiverbeing shaped to pro-- vide a densed uid between the connection thereof wth said condenser an'd said outlet.

4. In apparatus ofthe nature of that here plurality of paths of flow forconin described, in combination, a, compressor, from said motor andmounted to move air a condenser extending about said com ressor oversaid compressor, condenser and reand connected to receive condense fluidceiver.

therefrom, areceiver extending about said In testimony whereof,'I havesigned my 5 condenser and connected to receive conname to thisspecification this fourteenth day densed fluid therefrom, a motorconnected of January 1922.

to drive said compressor, and a fan-driven JOHN D. STROBELL.

